The Urology Trade Association (UTA) is the leading urology industry membership organisation in the UK, representing the majority of urology product manufacturers and suppliers to the urology appliance market. We welcome the opportunity to respond to this inquiry into patient centred care in the 21st Century.

An estimated 6 million people in the UK are affected by continence problems and many rely on urology appliances on a daily basis. High quality urology appliances allow users to effectively manage their conditions, maintaining their quality of life and independence and avoiding repeated medical consultations. Access to appropriate products is also important as poor long-term urological care often has a profound negative impact on a patient’s dignity and wellbeing.

The UTA believes that any future models of NHS care must consider that as the number of people with one or more long term conditions will increase, so will the number of people with continence problems. According to the World Health Organisation, longer life expectancies and an ageing population is likely to lead to an increased prevalence of neurological conditions, of which many will result in continence problems. As such, NHS England must consider making continence care a higher priority and providing clinicians with the support they need to ensure that continence care is provided at an adequate level. The UTA also believes that patients with continence needs must be able to make informed choices about the management of these needs, and must have access to products that best suit their needs. These products can only be provided if NHS staff properly evaluate the long-term implications of procurement on health outcomes and NHS budgets, rather than simply looking to make short term savings. Continue reading Royal College of General Practitioners inquiry: Patient Centred Care in the 21st Century→

Executive summary

The Urology Trade Association wishes to highlight in its response its strong support for the Drug Tariff, which provides confidence to all parties that devices listed are effective, safe, cost-effective, with price certainty.

The UTA notes that it is essential that commissioning staff understand the differences in seemingly-similar products, which can impact on a user of such a medical device, ranging from mild discomfort to infection, leading to hospital admission.

We suggest the Committee should investigate the value of developing partnerships between continence advisers and commissioning staff, so commissioners always have access to expert advice.

We also believe the Committee should make a strong recommendation that especially in times of limited public resource, it is essential that patient choice is preserved, so that patients can remain independent and dignified and the health service does not have to deal with the consequences of short-term decision making.

The Urology Trade Association welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Department of Health’s consultation Refreshing the Mandate to NHS England 2014 – 2015.

The Urology Trade Association (UTA) is the leading urology membership organisation, representing 95% of urology product manufacturers and suppliers to the urology appliance market.

An estimated six million people in the UK are affected by continence problems and many rely on urology appliances on a daily basis. High quality urology appliances allow users to manage their conditions, maintaining their quality of life and independence and avoiding repeated medical consultations. A majority of continence services are delivered in the community and this will be the main focus of our submission.

The UTA has become increasingly concerned about arrangements made previously by some PCTs and inherited by clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) which restrict patient and prescriber choice in the selection of urology appliances. We believe that choice in this area is vital to improving outcomes for patients who use urology products, and we hope that NHS England will act to promote choice in the interest of patients.

In urology care, the range and choice of appliances and associated care items that are available for prescription on the NHS is governed by the Drug Tariff, which also acts as a reimbursement framework for NHS providers. An important benefit of these arrangements is that it guarantees equality of access across the country. The Drug Tariff is a comprehensive list of products which have been assessed and approved at a national level as clinically effective and cost effective. However, we are aware that a number of NHS Trusts are introducing local formularies which narrow down the range of products approved for use at a national level into a reduced set of products for prescribers to recommend to patients. Continue reading Department of Health consultation: Refreshing the Mandate to NHS England→

The Urology Trade Association welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Care Quality Commission consultation A new start: consultation on changes to the way CQC regulates, inspects and monitors care.

The Urology Trade Association (UTA) is the leading urology industry membership organisation in the UK, representing 95% of urology product manufacturers and suppliers to the urology appliance market. An estimated six million people in the UK are affected by continence problems and many rely on urology appliances on a daily basis. High quality urology appliances allow users to manage their conditions, maintaining their quality of life and independence, and avoiding repeated medical consultations.

Executive summary

Continence problems are an element in many long-term conditions, with many patients using urology devices such as catheters to help manage this issue. Clinicians need to be encouraged to consider associated issues, such as continence, which may arise from certain long-term conditions, and take proactive steps to assess their patients’ wellbeing in this area.

Patients need to be able to access specialist advice to help them manage their conditions and choose the right products, and need to be able to access those products – often there are local restrictions in place which prevent this from happening, despite the national processes in place such as Part IX of the Drug Tariff.

Both general clinical and procurement staff should be encouraged to improve their knowledge of continence care and the importance of patients being able to access appropriate levels of care, support and treatment products.

There is a need for greater coordination between hospital and community care, particularly for individuals with long-term conditions who may have repeated admissions to hospital.

Executive summary

A large number of patients, often with complex long-term conditions, use urology appliances such as catheters to help manage their continence needs. Ensuring that they are able to access the most appropriate product for their needs is important in ensuring the best clinical outcomes.

Previously, in many PCTs, there have been efforts to make savings in this area by restricting the choice available to patients, despite a national Drug Tariff which sets out the products which should be available. This means many patients have been directed towards cheaper products which do not meet their need as well.

Staff in clinical commissioning groups should be incentivised to consider the likely long-term impact of spending decisions across the whole health and social care budget, rather than looking to make short term savings from a smaller area such as the prescribing budget.

Choice of product also needs to be considered when implementing Any Qualified Provider for continence services.

NHS England also needs to provide some further clarify on particular areas, such as the arrangements for managing dispensing appliance contractors.

Summary

The Urology Trade Association is the leading urology membership organisation, representing 95% of urology manufacturers and suppliers.

We are keen to see that public procurement policy, including skills and capabilities, looks beyond short-term approaches when procuring medical devices such as catheters, and considers the long-term impact of decisions made.

Short-term approaches are likely to result in increased demands by patients on the health service – including unnecessary emergency admissions – if cheaper, but less appropriate, medical devices are procured for patients.

The Government must engender a culture of long-term planning amongst procurement staff, in which staff look at the long-term implications of procurement and are fully aware of the differences between products available.